On October 7th, brothers Gali and Ziv Berman were taken hostage from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza and held in captivity for over two years.

The nine men joining them on this retreat are not just IDF soldiers. They are their closest friends.

While Gali and Ziv were in captivity, these friends served throughout the war, supported their families, carried their names into every room that would listen, and never stopped fighting to bring them home.

They waited.

They advocated.

They showed up.

Now, after everything they’ve endured, these eleven men have the opportunity to spend time together in a supportive environment focused on rest, reconnection, healing, and building new memories side by side.

This retreat builds on two previous recovery retreats we hosted for 14 Nova Festival survivors and 6 ZAKA volunteers. In both retreats, we witnessed how time away in a supportive environment helped participants reconnect with themselves and one another, returning home feeling more grounded, open, and hopeful than when they arrived.

Your support helps create a space where two former hostages and the friends who stood beside them every step of the way can finally pause, reconnect, and begin moving forward together.

All donations are tax-deductible and processed through our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Cohen Security Foundation. Donors will automatically receive a tax receipt for their contribution.

Healing as Brothers: A Retreat for Former Hostages and the Friends Who Fought to Bring Them Home

After captivity and combat, a chance to reconnect, rest, and begin moving forward together.

Team Members